A guitar owned and played by Jimi Hendrix is expected to sell for between £100,000 and £150,000 when it goes on sale later this week.

The guitar, a 1965 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster, has not been up for sale since it was presented to Hendrix's manager's assistant in 1970, just after the guitarist's death from an accidental drug overdose.

The guitar will go on sale on Thursday at the Rock Legends Auction at the Cooper Owen galleries in London.

Gallery owner Ted Owen said: "It's the first time it has come up for sale.

"It was given to Tappy Wright, who was the assistant to Mike Jeffrey, Jimi's manager. Tappy then sold it to the present owner, who has put it up for sale," he said.

The guitar is one of three sunbursts the famous guitarist used. Another, owned by Frank Zappa's son Dweezil, went up for sale last September.

The guitar received a bid for £300,000 but Dweezil Zappa declined to accept it.

Buyer interest

Mr Owen said the guitar had been stringed for a left-hander. He said Hendrix had to alter some right-handed guitars so he could play them.

The guitar had also been used by the 60s veterans The Animals during the 1980s, when Mr Wright had been their road manager.

Mr Owen said the guitar had already received a lot of interest from buyers.

Other rock items appearing in the sale include several Beatles curios.

A violin bass guitar signed by Paul McCartney is expected to sell for between £3,500 and £4,000, while an army cap worn by Ringo Starr may fetch £2,500.

A 1969 diary of John Lennon's, signed by the Beatle and wife Yoko Ono, is estimated to make £1,600.

A signed Pink Floyd guitar, the original master of David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World and rare posters of the Sex Pistols and the Rolling Stones will also be included.